Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher Goes 3D

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 18, 2009

Indie producer Green Knight Ventures will film a contemporary adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”. The film will star Dougray Scott (Ever After), his real life wife Claire Forlani (Meet Joe Black) and Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist.)

When I read that Poe’s  “The Fall of the House of Usher” would be made into a film I was intrigued.  We’re talking claustrophobic old house, possible live burial, haunting, insanity, and a family curse. Yes, it has it all. But then, alas, I read it will be a contemporary version set in Martha’s Vineyard, titled The Ushers which unfortunately makes me think of old ladies dressed in black with white doily collars guiding theater goers to their seats at Broadway shows.

The Ushers, brother and sister, Roderick and Madeline live in the family manse which is suffering from some serious physical decay. Think Grey Gardens without Big and Little Edie. An unnamed family friend narrates the original story. He has arrived at the Usher home to try to help his old friend Roderick Usher. When he arrives he finds his friend’s hold on sanity is as shaky as the Usher house foundation.

According to the plot description of this contemporary version, brother and sister turn to a realtor for help when they feel trapped in the family home they share. Will this be a guy in a mustard yellow Century 21 jacket? Is the Usher house listed as a fixer upper?

Stephen Kay is set to direct the film which will be 3D! Oh boy! Does this mean spooky objects will fly at the audience and the freaky gas cloud from the story will waft into theater seats?

Gian Marco Masoni is writing the screenplay which will be produced by Stefano Gallini Durante and Pete Maggi.

3D  The Ushers just isn’t looking too promising to me. The three leads are good actors, but the contemporary setting and the use of 3D  seems unnecessary and cheesy. Poe’s work can stand on its own and it would have been nice to see a sharp adaptation of his dark story of a rotting family tree.

Any Poe fans out there who think this could be done a lot better than The Ushers in 3D?

Read more articles by Robin Ruinsky